My PARENTS are HERE!!!

Here for a 1 week getaway and of course, to see me. =)

The tour did a good job, and I played my part by buying them local delights and souvenirs.

My dad bought roses for my mom... its nice to see my parents being so lovey and I hope they really had FUN here in Beijing. =)

Teaching English in Beijing

Singapore Volunteers with Teachers and Students from 百年 Vocational School

Merlion Plushies and Local Delights

Note from Me to Them

A short stay of only a few lessons at Beijing's 百年 vocational school, but still it is a memorable experience. Me and a few friends volunteered to teach some English lessons at this free vocational school for children from poor families. They are poor but they are an enthusiastic lot. Most of them are cheerful and quick in learning. I say most because some of them come from more rural areas and they seem more conservative and gloomy than the rest. It's too bad I can't stay long enough them better.

Comparing with my relief-teaching experience in Singapore, this is so different. These Chinese students really want to learn and they really respect you as a teacher even though I am not far from their age. I will miss teaching there and I hope that I can do this kind of teaching again in the future, hopefully in Japan. =P

I wanna COMPLAIN~!!!

Sensor-equipped tap and flush, with clean floors and walls, BUT... where's the TOILET PAPER!?

Double decker bus with TV mobile and air-conditioning, BUT... who do you think wants to squeeze into this small and dark compartment to sit?!

And now for the FINALE...

This is how they dye your hair here - with clear wraps... |||

Hail the MAD-HATTER and his portable hot hair-bag!

Magic Beam-sprouts

The good thing about having lots of people. Things can be done almost magically. A bus stop shelter just sprouted right outside my condominium overnight. Flower gardens are planted within a day and the 西直门 subway station suddenly had a rain-shelter within a week!

3 minutes of mourning

White Roses from my colleagues

Half-flag and Black Cars

May 19 2008, 14:28, Outside my workplace - Beijing Radio Station

1 week ago I posted about the tremor I felt in Beijing, little did I know that it killed so many people. Yesterday, exactly 1 week after the shake, China mourned for the victims with 3 minutes of silence. Work was put down and traffic stopped. However, unlike the usual silent mourning, sirens and horns were sounded everywhere. They come from ships, vehicles, and civil defense stations. Personally, I felt that the noise pollution was unnecessary, but still I joined in the silence.

Noisy 3-minutes of Silence
(click HERE if this video doesn't work)

Crowded Passers-by...

...Joining in the mourne

Entertainment avenues will stop from 19 - 21 May 2008 to prolong the mourning. News about the earthquake is broadcasted 24/3 and although I think that being updated is good, 24/3 for all media channels is a bit too much - too much repeated information and too much emotional stirs. But I did get a 3 day break from my radio programme work because of this, so I can't complain.

Mourning in line with black dress code

Outside the blood donation bus on a weekday afternoon

Based on this incident, I think that the Chinese are very united and patriotic. Their affinity to the victims were shown by the rush to donate blood, clothes, food and money. Of course, there are those who volunteered to go to the disaster site to help in whatever way they can. Like what many media has reported, China dealt with this situation very efficiently and openly (unlike Myanmar). They are willing to accept help and disclose a considerable amount of information during press conferences, as compared to past cases.

Media coverage

Click HERE to listen to the "Sichuan Disaster News Special" Jingle which I voiced in

Click HERE to listen to the News Special - ONLY from 19 - 21st May 2008

I think that generally, the press also did a good job in clearing doubts about the incident. It's not that they are being anal and making trouble instead of helping the victims, but it is for the future good. I believe that after these probes, China will be a even better country, with stricter construction laws, better earthquake-detection technology and life-saving skills.

With that said, I hope that the following months to come will be happier... back to my report-writing...

Minor tremors in Beijing, but I am fine =)

I experienced a minor shake from my office in Beijing this afternoon at about 2pm. Everyone evacuated in case it gets worse. The shaking stopped shortly so I don't think it's anything to worry about.

I am now safe at home writing my Tsing Hua University essay and NTU PI Report. sighs...

You may also want to check out my post at STOMP:
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=22879

Post-tremor outside my office - Beijing Radio Station

Post-tremor outside CapitalLand Building in Beijing

What caused the tremor? Read this article from...

The Straits Times
May 12, 2008

Strong earthquake hits southwest China

BEIJING - A POWERFUL 7.5-magnitude earthquake rocked southwest China on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, shaking buildings in Beijing and felt as far away as Taipei and Hong Kong.

The quake struck 93 kilometres from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province and a major population centre with more than 10 million people.

It struck shortly before 2.30 pm (0630 GMT), the survey said, at a depth of just 10 kilometres.

The USGS initially estimated the strength of the quake at 7.8.

The earthquake did not appear to have caused major damage in the metropolis of Chengdu near its epicentre, state television reported on Monday.

A reporter for CCTV news in Chengdu said residents of the city had poured out onto the streets following the 7.5-magnitude quake but that public transport and electricity supplies remained operational.

Asked if anyone had been hurt in Chengdu, the reporter said: 'All appears to be fine.'

However, the quake appeared to have disrupted cellular telecommunications in the city, he added.

China's tallest building, the Jinmao tower, and other highrise buildings in Shanghai's financial district were ordered evacuated on Monday after tremors were felt.

Buildings shook in Beijing and Shanghai at the same time, residents in the cities reported.

Japan?s meteorological agency said no warnings for a tsunami has been issued.

Sources said there was no immediate impact to the Three Gorges Dam project, the weight of whose massive reservoir, hundreds of kms from Chengdu, experts have said could increase the risk of tremors.

A source at the biggest refinery in western China, Lanzhou, said the plant also appeared unaffected by the quake.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported the quake 7.6 on the Richter scale.

The quake was felt in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, where buildings swayed for around half a minute. There were no immediate reports of casualties there.

It was also felt in the southern Chinese territory of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

'Several local residents called the Hong Kong Observatory to report having felt a tremor,' it said in a statement, adding that its seismograph had also recorded the quake.

It said its experts would analyse the date and release more information as soon as possible.

In Thailand, high buildings shook in the Thai capital of Bangkok after reports of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan in China.

The tremors were also felt in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Singapore's SilkAir flight to Chengdu diverted
Singapore Airlines unit SilkAir said it diverted a flight headed for Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, after its pilots were told that the Chengdu airport was shut following an earthquake.

The plane, which was to have reached Chengdu at 3.30 pm Singapore time has landed at Kunming in the neighbouring Yunnan province, a spokesman from SilkAir said.

The last powerful quake to hit China was on March 21, a 7.2 magnitude quake which struck near the northwestern city of Hotan in Xinjiang province. -- REUTERS, AFP